Sign.



Patented Oct. 3, I899. C. G. WHELAN.

v SIGN. (Application filed Oct. 28, 18984 Renewed July 6, 1899.)

(No Model.)

THE Remus versus no. vgicmn-Lrmc-v WASHINGTON 0. cv

FFICE PATENT CHARLES C. \VHELAN, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

'SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 684,316 dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed October 26, 1898. Renewed July 6, 1899- Serial No. 722,978- O model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. WHELAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at NVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to signs.

The object of the invention is to provide a sign or signs which will not only'attract the attention of customers or patrons, but will be attractive and pleasing to the general public.

According to my invention I associate with the merchandise or substance to be sold a movable sign or series of such signs of such character as to give animated or animated and sparkling effects.

The invent-ion consists in the combination of a suitable support, one or more movable display cards or signs attached to said support, a means for forcing air, and a trunk or conduit for conducting an air-current from said means to the movable sign.

The invention further consists in certain combinations hereinafter fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing one application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail showing a terminal of the air trunk or conduit.

In the form in which I have illustrated my invention, 1 represents the glass or transparent part of a show-window. Within this window I have provided a tank 2, within which sea food for customers is exhibited. The sea food may be fish, lobsters, oysters, crabs, and the like. In lieu of the tank, however, shelves or display-stands for any character of merchandise may be substituted, the signs or display-cards being made to correspond with the merchandise exhibited in the window. able frame or support 3 of ornamental or attractive character and suspend from this frame display cards or signs 4 4 of any suitable or attractive character. I contemplate, however, using highly polished glass the I also arrange in the window a suitground of which is colored or stained and the lettering upon which is plain transparent glass. The display-cards may be of any suitable or desired substance other than glass, if so desired; but by the use of beveled plateglass or cut-glass panels I am enabled, in con nection with a proper light, to obtain sparkling effects and through the air-blast, which gives a movement to these panels, obtain animated eifects. Leading from any suitable source of air under pressure, as a fan 5, is an air trunk or conduit 6 for direct-ing a current of air against one or more of the display-cards.

In the form of apparatus which I have adopted for illustrating this application the trunk is provided with branches 7 7, through which a blast or current of 'air is directed to the side of the signs 4 4:,- so as to give said signs or display-cards a vibratory or swinging movement. The trunk 6 has a somewhat reduced continuation 8, extending past the signs or display-cards 4t 4 and up to about the top of the frame 3. Leading from the upper part of this continuation are branches 9 9, arranged to discharge currents of air on opposite sides of a pennant or streamer 10. This streamer is removably supported in a socket in or connected with the upper end of the continuation 8 of the air-trunk and is firmly held in position by means of set-screw 11. In this way the pennant or streamer will be kept agitated or caused to wave constantly during the continuation of the blast. The pennant or streamer may also be readily removed and replaced by another to correspond with the va rying products or articles exhibited for sale. In some instances it may be desirable to throw the pennant or streamer out of the plane of the frame or the stem of the air-trunk. I therefore provide a crooked extension or continuation of the main trunk, as shown in Fig. 30f the drawings. I have illustrated in connection with my sign system an electric light and reflector 12 for illuminating the window and the display-signs.

The stafi of the pennant or streamer termi nates with an ornamental head 13, provided with a notched top to hold by friction a card or sign 14, which may be removed from time to time and another of different character substituted therefor. The head 13, as shown in the drawings, is made spherical in form; but obviously any ornamental configuration may be adopted for this purpose, or, indeed, the staff itself may be notched, leaving the top of the staff plain.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sign embracing the combination of a pennant or streamer, means for producing an air-blast, a single trunk or conduit leading from source of air-blast, having branches for discharging currents of air on opposite sides of the pennant, substantially as described.

2. A sign embracing the combination of a plurality of independently-movable signs or display-cards, a blower, a trunk or conduit leading from the blower, and branches leading from the trunk to discharge air-currents against the face of the display-cards, substantially as described.

3. A sign embracing the combination of a pennant or streamer, a blower, an air trunk T or eonduitleading from blower, and branches leading from air-trunk to direct currents of 1 air on opposite sides of the streamer, substantially as described.

4. A sign embracing the combination of a plurality of suspended display cards or signs, a pennant or streamer, a blower, a trunk or conduit leading from blower, branches leading from the trunk toward the face of the display-cards, and branches leading from the trunk to the opposite sides of the pennant, substantially as described.

5. A sign involving the combination of means to display merchandise or articles to be sold, movable signs or display-cards associated with such means, ablower, an airtrunk leading from blower, and branches leading from the air-trunk for directing currents of air against the face of the signs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. C. WIIELAN.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY L. AMER, 'l. E. W IIELAN. 

